Irish Senate backs law banning trade with Israeli settlements

European General Consuls of France (2L), Sweden, Belgium, Italy, Ireland, Switzerland, Findand, Denmark and European Union are blocked by Israeli police as they want to visit the Palestinian Bedouin village of Khan al-Ahmar, east of Jerusalem in the occupied West Bank on July 5, 2018.Khan al-Ahmar, which Israeli authorities say was illegally constructed and the supreme court in May rejected a final appeal against its demolition, is located near several Israeli settlements along a road leading to the Dead Sea. Activists are concerned continued Israeli settlement construction in the area could effectively divide the northern and southern West Bank. / AFP PHOTO / THOMAS COEX

The Irish Senate gave its support Wednesday to a draft law prohibiting the import of goods produced in occupied territories around the world, including Israeli settlements considered illegal under international law.

Israel reacted angrily to the proposal calling it “populist, dangerous and extremist”, while a spokesman for the PLO expressed “sincere appreciation” for the initiative.

The proposed law was introduced by an independent senator and drew support from all of Ireland’s major political parties, except the governing Fine Gael party.

The Irish government said the measure, unprecedented for a European Union member, was unworkable because it would impose a trade barrier within the European Union’s single market and could harm Irish influence in the region.

Senators voted in favour of the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill by 25 votes to 20, with applause rippling through the chamber after an impassioned debate.

It will now undergo further scrutiny in a senate committee, with the government set to continue trying to block it becoming law.

“We may have a long path ahead of us,” said Senator Frances Black, the bill’s author. “But I believe… we’ve made the case clearly.”

Calling Israeli settlements a “war crime”, she compared her proposal to early Irish efforts to oppose apartheid in South Africa, adding Ireland “will always stand on the side of international law, human rights and justice.”